KEN CRUTCHLEY'S PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM

Ken Crutchley passed away at the end of 2006.  He was a formidable man, with a firm handshake and an even firmer gaze, which we think is readily discernable in the Army mug shot shown above.  Notwithstanding old age, Ken's home and small garden in Manchester were well kept until the end of his life.  He retained an attention for detail, visiting the local library to check for news and carefully propagating plants from seed at home for the next season.  But he was a wordly man, whose breadth of knowledge extended well beyond parochial affairs. For example, he knew the performance statistics of most modern sports bikes and, well into his eighties, seemed to be considering taking several of them for a test ride. Above all, he always retained a wonderful sense of humour and mischief.  

During the war, Ken was initially stationed to Scapa Flow, the Royal Navy base in the Orkneys, which was an exceptionally cold, windswept and inhospitable posting.  He was then shipped out to North Africa to join the 1st Army and subsequently fought his way up Italy with the 4th Battalion of the Reconnaisance Corps.  This was much warmer work. Ken does not have photographs from his period of active service abroad. For obvious reasons, troops on active service were not permitted cameras for personal use. 

The view from Ken's Hut at Scapa Flow   "It was less interesting in real life"

The duties undertaken by the Reconnaissance Corps duties were invariably hazardous, often requiring personnel to be at or beyond the front line for extended periods. Ken rarely spoke of these aspects of his life.  Of much that happened in the war, he would simply say that it was so absurd that no-one would ever believe him.   Towards the end of his life Ken invited the web editor to see him and showed some of his papers.  After producing several boxes of passes and guidebooks, Ken dryly observed that the historical contribution of his periods of leave to the overall war effort had often been underestimated. 

Other items more accurately betrayed Ken's loyalty, kindness and service; the manuscript additions he had once made to the Order of Service for the First Army's disbandment, the packet of currents sent home to his Mum in Manchester and a carefully preserved account of the exploits of 4th Recce, with whom he served.  Ken will remain in our memories for many years; the absence of his regular contributions to the pages Manchester Veteran is irreplacable.  We therefore reproduce the accounts of 4th Recce that Ken himself kept with his papers.   

 Ken Crutchley (right) in 1945

"Sorry the photograph is creased but my pals were just as ugly sixty years ago. I'm surprised the camera never cracked"

Ken' Various Uniform Flashes (He did point to us that he never actually served in the Wermacht)